Finger-guard for sewing-machines.



M J. HARSANT.

FINGER GUARD FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLlCATION FILED MAY 11. l9l6- 1 07,034. Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Z] n U014 4'04: Jf/armmi MAYBELLE J'. HARSANT, OF SELIBY, CALIFORNIA.

FINGER-GUARD FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 11, 1916. Serial No. 96,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAYBELLE J. HARSANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Selby, in the county of Contra Costa, State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Guards forSewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to. be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to finger guards or protectors, and is adaptedparticularly for use upon sewing machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a guard applicable toa sewing machine to prevent the fingers of the operator from becomingmashed or injured by the needle of the machine, which is simple andinexpensive of construction, which is applicable to machines ofvarioustypes and constructions, which will not in any way interfere withthe operation of the machine, and which is capable of being readilymoved out of the way when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guard of thischaracter which is of such formation as to permit of the machineoperator seeing every operation of the machine needle and thecooperating parts thereof while the guard is in operative position.

W ith these objects in view, together with others which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fullyhereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1, is a fragmentary view of a conventional formof sewing machine and illustrating a guard embodying my inventionapplied thereto, the view being taken from the operators position, Fig.2, is a side elevation taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1, Fig. 3,is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the guard moved toinoperative position, and Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional view takenthrough the device as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates aportion'of the machine frame or head, the same being equipped "with theusual reciprocating needle bar 6, and the end of which is provided witha needle.

The invention resides in the provision of a plate between thereciprocating needle bar of the machine and the operator, so that thefingers of the operator in guiding the cloth to the needle will beprevented from coming n contact therewith or being mashed or inured bythe presser foot. This plate is secured to the machine head in suchmanner as, when not in operative position, to not interfere with thefeeding of the cloth to the needle, and is capable of being swung ormoved to inoperative position, or out of the way, to'enable the machineoperator to have access to the needle, presser foot, or other correlatedparts to repair the latter or to apply the various machine attachmentsto or adjacent the needle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a. rectangular frame 8 isprovided.

This frame may be made of light durable.

metal, such as nickel, aluminum or the like, and its longitudinal inneredges are grooved as at 9 for the reception of a dia'phanous panesuch-as glass 10. The glass 10 is of a size to conveniently fit withinthe frame, in order that the operator of the machine may view from hisposition the various operations of the needle and its associatemachinery. The upper lateral edge of the frame 8 is also grooved uponits inner face to'accommodate the edge of the pane 10. The grooves 9 inthe side bars of the frame are open at their lowermost ends, and aswinging channeled gate 11 is pivoted as at 12 to the lowermost end ofone of said bars to permit of the glass pane being inserted within theframe and to be swung to closed position after the pane has beenproperly adjusted to prevent the latter from becoming detached from theframe. Ears 13 project in spaced parallel relation beyond the uppermostend of the frame 8 and preferably at the lateral edges thereof, thesaidears being provided with longitudinally disposed slots 14.

To secure the above described frame upon the machine, a block 15 isprovided. This block may also be formed of suitable metal, and providesa pair of spaced arms 16, the latter adj acent'their ends beingapertured to permit of the application of retaining screws or bolts 17to the head. These screws project laterally through the arms and areadapted at their innermost *ends for engagement with the head portion ofthe machine most ends ofthe said screws being equipped with paddingelements such as rubber 18 to prevent scratching or abrasions of themachine head. It will be observed that the inner face of one of the arms16 is inclined as at 19, the construction permittin of the block beingattached to machine heads of various shapes and sizes. block 15 areprovided with outwardly ex- .tending pins or trunnions 20, the latterbeing adapted for engagement within the elongated slots 14 in. the ears13 carried by the frame. Stops 21 project outwardly from the block endsat the rear thereof to limit the forward swinging movement of the framewhen the latter is depending from the retaining block. A transverselydisposed shoulder 22 is also arranged upon each of the ends of the block15, this shoulder 1imit-. ing the movement of the frame 8 When thelatter is swung to inoperative position, the said shoulders being soarranged as to abut the ear edges when the latter assume a position atright angles to the block.

In operation, the block 15 is, through the screw member 17, adjusted toa sewing machine head slightly in advance'of the needle bar 6; The frameswings upon the pintles 20 into downward position, or parallel with theneedle bar 6, slightly in advance of the latter, and being spaced at itslowermostend slightly above the machine table. As cloth is'fed to theneedle, the guard will prevent the fingers of the machine operator frompassing with the cloth beneath the reciprocating needle. Stops 21 limitthe rearward swinging movement of the frame 8. It will be'o-bserved alsothat the diaphanous pane 10 will permit of the operator viewing theopthe head 15, whereupon a slight forward The ends of the sightviewmovement delivered to the frame will cause the same to move adistance equal to the length of the slot 14, whereupon the cars 13 willbe locked between the shoulders 22 and the upper extremities of thestops 21. From this construction it is apparent that an extremely simpleand eflicient means is provided for attaining the objects set forth, andone which is tho-roughly durable and reliable. I

\Vhile I have herein shown and described a particular or preferredembodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that I neednot confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein setforth by way of illustration, as modifications or variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding thescope of the claims;

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a machine of the class described, of a block,arms projecting upwardly from said block, screw members securin saidarms to-a machine head, pintles projecting from the ends of said block,shoulders above said pintles, stops on said ends to the rear of saidpintles, a frame, means projecting from one end of said frame and beingprovided with longitudinally disposed apertures for engagement with saidpintles, and a diaphanous member in said .frame, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a device of the class described, a block, arms projecting fromsaid block, inwardly extending screw members on said arms, the end ofsaid block being equipped with shoulders and stops, a frame, earsprojecting from said frame and pivotally connected .to said block ends,the said frame being provided upon its inner edges with longitudinallydisposed grooves, a pane in said grooves, and a gate closing the lowerend of said frame,'substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

- MAYlBELlLE J. HARSANT.

Vitnesses:

Mrs. H. G. Coon, MARY J. Jors'rEN.

